Vincenzo Montella leaves Turkey after four straight Nations League defeats

Vincenzo Montella has thanked Turkey’s players and supporters after being dismissed as national team manager following three years in charge.

The Turkish Football Federation announced Montella’s departure earlier this week after Turkey lost all four of their opening matches in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League during the international windows in September and October.

Montella, who took charge in September 2023, posted a message on Instagram reflecting on his time with the team.

“Every story has an ending, but some journeys leave a mark that goes beyond football,” wrote the Italian.

“It was a great honour for me to coach Turkey. Three years ago, I was appointed to lead the national team of this beautiful country.”

He added: “I would like to sincerely thank those who believed in me and continued to give me the trust and appreciation they had shown since the beginning of this journey.”

Montella also paid tribute to the squad, saying: “I want to sincerely thank the players for their dedication, effort and commitment. I received countless affectionate messages from them after my time with the national team ended, which once again proves the strength of the relationship between us.”

The 51-year-old reserved particular praise for Turkey’s supporters.

“Most importantly, I want to sincerely thank the fans for their extraordinary passion and the support they gave us all over the world,” he said.

“We shared unforgettable moments, achieved historic successes, overcame difficulties and wrote a special story in the history of this country.

“I will carry these memories and the love of the Turkish people in my heart forever. Thank you, Turkey. You will always have a special place in my heart.”

Turkey’s supporters had called for Montella to resign after the team’s run of four consecutive Nations League defeats. They began with a 1-0 loss to France in the opening round, followed by a heavy 4-1 defeat by Italy.

Turkey then lost 3-0 to Belgium before ending the international break with another defeat by Italy, this time by a 3-1 scoreline.

During his spell in charge, Montella guided Turkey through qualification for UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He managed 40 matches in total, recording 21 wins, 14 defeats and five draws. His team scored 66 goals and conceded 58.

Montella had extended his contract in June 2025, with the agreement set to run until UEFA Euro 2028.

French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Arda Turan, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, is a leading candidate to replace him as Turkey manager.